Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 22:6/אבן עזרא על דברים כ״ב:ו׳
אכי יקרא. נסמכה זאת הפרשה בעבור בדרך:
1IF A BIRD’S NEST CHANCE TO BE BEFORE THEE IN THE WAY. This section20 follows because Scripture earlier mentioned by the way (v. 4).21
ביקרא. כמו נקרא נקראתי והם מגזרת מקרה וקרוב מפגע:
2CHANCE. The word yikkare (chance) is similar to nikro nikreti (As I happened by chance) (II Sam. 1:6). These words have the meaning of chance.22 and of nikro nikreti is kof, resh, alef. This root means to call. However, this meaning would be out of place here and in II Sam. 1:6. Hence I.E. points out that our root is a variant of kof, resh, heh, which means to meet or to chance upon. It is close in meaning to “meet.”
גאל״ף אפרוחים נוסף כמו אל״ף ובאזרועך והטעם כי אכזריות הוא בלב להיות אם על בנים רוטשה וכן שור או שה:
3[YOUNG ONES.] The alef in efrochim (young ones) is superfluous. It is like the alef of u-ve-ezro’akha (and with your arm) (Jer. 32:21).23. I.E. probably quoted from memory. It is very cruel to crush a mother with her children. Hence the reason for this law. The same applies to an ox 24 or a sheep.25. Lev. 22:28 prohibits the killing of a lamb or an ox and its mother in the same day.